Valve block, in particular for slip-controlled hydraulic brake systems

ABSTRACT

A valve block, in particular for slip-controlled hydraulic brake systems, includes a plurality of valve domes (10) incorporating magnet coils (1) and insulating casings cast around the magnet coils (1), as well as a contact carrier (2) containing a plurality of electric conductors (4), with the insulating material (10) encompassing the magnet coils (1) forming an integral unit with the contact carrier (2). The resulting design improves manufacturability, functional reliability, modular design flexibility and serviceability.

INTRODUCTION

The present invention relates to a valve block, in particular forslip-controlled hydraulic brake systems according to the preamble ofclaim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A like valve block is known from patent application P 37 01 019.0. Theexternal housing of the valve block is fixed on the valve block housingby a catch-type arrangement in this design, and the electric conductorsand the magnet coils are soldered and are guided with a contact memberdesigned as a multipoint plug in the housing cover to connect to acontrol unit. The requirement of a separate housing cover and solderingof the coils and the conducting paths have to be regarded as notfavorable, since the comparatively great expenditure entailed forsoldering the conducting path and the coils has adverse affects onmanufacturing costs. Moreover, the complicated assembly of the largenumber of component parts, the risk of corrosion in the event ofinsufficient plug sealing and cover sealing as well as the insufficientheat emission through the housing cover and the heat expansion resultingtherefrom are regarded as disadvantageous in the known conventionalvalve block design.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has for its object to improve upon avalve block of the species referred to initially to such effect that theaforementioned shortcomings are overcome and there is accomplishedconsiderable simplification of the linkage technology, while the modulardesign is taken into consideration at the same time, as well asaugmented ease of repair.

This object is achieved according to the present invention by thefeatures characterizing patent claim 1.

An advantageous embodiment of this invention resides in compensating forfit-responsive and temperature-responsive variations between magnet coiland contact carrier by virtue of elastic linkages which permit torelieve the current conductors embedded in the elastic linkages fromtensile load, preferably by way of small-surface resilient-tab-like orspider-type linkings.

Furthermore, it is provided by the subject matter of this invention tocombine the insulating stuffing of the magnet coil in the yoke with themanufacture of the contact carrier by shaping the contact carrier out ofthe same insulating material in one working operation by plasticinjection moulding.

Besides, the embodiment of the subject matter of this invention permitsto position the current conductors on the magnet coils as desired inrelation to the valve block housing--irrespective of their design, nomatter whether cable, punched grid or wire--and to subsequentlyextrusion-coat them with the contact carrier in an anti-corrosion aswell as tension-relieving manner.

Further features, advantages and possibilities of application of thisinvention can be gathered from the description of a plurality of draftedembodiments which will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG. 1, is a partial cross-sectional view of the inventive valve block;

FIG. 2, is the top view on the valve block showing three designs of thelinkage between contact carrier and magnet coil;

FIG. 3, is an alternative form of presentation showing the side view ofthe valve block with the inventive membrane-type linkage between contactcarrier and magnet coil;

FIG. 4, is a spatial presentation of the spider-type or, respectively,S-shaped elastic linkage between the contact carrier and the magnetcoil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a section of a valve block with a magnet coil 1 which isshown in partial cross-section, which is extrusion-coated by insulatingmaterial 10 in a yoke 9, with magnet coil wire designed as currentconductor 4 extending out of the yoke 9 in direct linkage and beingshaped to form a contact carrier 2 preferably in one working operationby being extrusion-coated with the insulating material 10. To fasten thecontact carrier 2 on a valve block housing 8, preferably, there isprovision of a retaining element 7 designed as a screw. It is alsopossible to effect securement of the contact carrier 2 by way of aretaining element 17 which is shrunk on a valve dome 6 and acts like acup spring. Both variations are shown in the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the top view on the valve block housing 8 with the magnetcoils 1 slid onto the valve dome 6, wherein alternatively threedifferent embodiments of elastomeric linkage 3 for radially linking thecurrent conductors 4 between the magnet coils 1 and the contact carrier2 and finally also to a plug connection 5 are shown.

The first embodiment in FIG. 2 shows three electric current conductors 4which are evenly distributed over the periphery of the magnet coil 1 andwhich are wound in S-type configuration for the purpose of unhinderedelastomeric deformability in radial expansion relative to the magnetcoil 1 so that in the event of different mechanical and thermal loadthere may be effected an uninhibited extension or shortening of theelastomeric linkages 3. The current conductors 4 are extrusion-coatedwith the plastic material 10 of the magnet coils 1 and the contactcarrier 2, respectively.

The second elastomeric linkage 3 of the current conductor 4 betweenmagnet coil 1 and contact carrier 2, which is shown by way of example inFIG. 2, is performed by separately insulated and untwisted lines, inconsequence whereof safe attachment of the contact carrier 2 on thevalve block housing 8 must be carried out by means of additionalretaining elements 7.

In an alternative, the third embodiment of FIG. 2 shows the magnet coil1 and the cable linkage of the current conductor 4 in any arrangementdesired and extrusion-coated by the material of the contact carrier 2 sothat there is no need for a special fixing of the contact carrier 2vis-a-vis the magnet coil on the valve block housing 8. The contactcarrier 2 is shaped as a plug connection 5 in the drawing on theleft-hand side, the connections of the current conductor 4 projectingfrom the plug connection 5 being discernible.

With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 drafts a possibility of designing theelastomeric linkage 3 in the form of contacting the magnet coil 1 in amanner membrane-like twisted as shown in the side view, so that in theevent of the valve block being subjected to mechanic or thermal load,there is ensured an expansion compensation and consequently a tractionrelief of the current conductor 4 embedded in the contact carrier 2.

FIG. 4 shows in a spatial view the spider-type or S-shaped elastomericlinkage 3 of the current conductor 4 between magnet coil 1 and contactcarrier 2 so that there is enabled an unhindered lateral lengthcompensation of the elastomeric linkage in the event of length variationof the component parts.

What is claimed is:
 1. A valve block for slip-controlled hydraulic brakesystems comprising: a plurality of valve domes incorporating magnetcoils with insulating material cast around the magnet coils; and acontract carrier containing a plurality of electric conductors, whereinthe insulating material encompassing the magnet coils forms an integralunit with the contact carrier wherein the contact carrier isinterconnected with the insulating material of the magnet coils by atleast one elastic linkage whereby said interconnection is substantiallyindependent of fit tolerances and temperature variations.
 2. A valveblock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic linkage between themagnet coils and the contact carrier is a homogeneous constituent of theinsulating material encompassing the magnet coils.
 3. A valve block asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic linkage at least partiallyencases the electric conductors between the magnet coils and at leastone plug connection adaptable connection with a control circuit.
 4. Avalve block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric conductorscomprise a component part in the contact carrier which is formed byextrusion-coating and is electrically insulated as well as integrated.5. A valve block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric conductorsare composed of varnish-insulated wires positioned in at least planes inthe contact carrier.
 6. A valve block as claimed in claim 1, wherein theelectric conductors are embedded as punched grid in at least one planeof the contact carrier.
 7. A valve block as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe contact carrier is positioned in axial direction relative to thevalve domes' axis in any location desired in respect of the magnet coilsfixed on the valve domes.
 8. A valve block as claimed in claim 1,wherein the contact carrier is fastened on a valve block housing bymeans of an operatively connected form-locking retaining element.
 9. Avalve block as claimed in claim 1, wherein insulating stuffing in a yokeof the magnet coils and form material of the contact carrier areidentical so that a homogeneous unit is constituted in one workingoperation by injection moulding.
 10. A valve block as claimed in claim1, wherein all connections of the electric conductors to the magnet coilare effected in radial extension by resilient-tab-like elastic linkageswhereby, in the event of length variation of the parts, said linkagesaffect strain relief of the current conductor providing lengthcompensation and a non-tension condition.
 11. A valve block as claimedin claim 1, wherein the magnet coils and the valve domes are encompassedand confined on all sides by the contact carrier, the said contactcarrier being attached to the valve block housing by at least oneretaining element.
 12. A valve block comprising:a valve block housing; aplurality of valve domes carried on said housing; a coil concentricallydisposed about each said valve dome, each said coil encased withininsulating material; a contact carrier composed substantially ofinsulating material integrally formed with said coil insulating materialand containing a plurality of electric conductors interconnecting saidcoils with at least one circuit interface, wherein at least of saidcoils is disposed in a spaced relationship with said contact carrier andat least one of said electric conductors resiliently bridges the two,and wherein said bridging electric conductor is insulativelysubstantially encased within elastomeric linkage interconnecting saidcoil and contact carrier.
 13. The valve block of claim 12, wherein saidcircuit interface comprises a plug connection including a plurality ofelectrically conductive contacts and a protector insulator integrallyformed with and carried by said contact carrier.
 14. The valve block ofclaim 12, further comprising at least one yoke, said yoke concentricallydisposed with one of said valve domes and associated coil and coactingwith said valve block housing to substantially enclose said associatedcoil and encasing insulating material.